Three Democrats vie for county party chair

JAMIE MOCK

Published 6:00 pm, Monday, March 1, 2004

I am running because we need new leadership in the party," says Bishop. "We need someone who can steer the party, recruit new people, and just do the job the democratic chair is supposed to do." Bishop, a resident of Precinct 2, says the party needs a new direction, and a leader that helps get the vote out.

"I think I am best suited because I have been a resident of Fort Bend County for 16 years," says Bishop. "I am in Precinct 2, and we have a proven record of going out to getting the voters. We bring them to the polls on election day, and they turn out in record numbers voting."

Bishop was a member of the Hip-Hop executive committee, a young voter registration drive that began in Dallas several years ago. According to Bishop, the committee succeeded in getting 10,000 new voters registered in Houston and surrounding areas.

"We were targeting 18-year-olds," says Bishop. "They are one of the groups that are not represented on election day. We are trying to get them educated on political empowerment."

Bishop says one of the keys to a successful Democratic Party in Fort Bend is not only recruiting Democratic candidates, but supporting them during the race. She says the fact that all three candidates for Party Chair are new to the race makes it a year of change for the party.

"We are all excited about that," says Bishop, who believes she is the best suited to help make that change. "I have worked with local, state and elected officials," says Bishop. "I have been doing the job for a number of years. I have been working with helping the Democratic Party here in Fort Bend, and I want to continue to do that. I enjoy it, and it gives me great pleasure to do that."

Land, a retired employee of the city of Houston after 21 years, 12 of which were spent in the Mayor Pro-tem's office, decided to run after articles she read indicated that the Democratic Party was in a state of disarray.

"Being a lifelong Democrat, and reading some of the things that were happening in the party it made me take a second look at exactly what was going on around me and with the party that I have been diligent with and voted for since I was first given the opportunity at the age of 18 to vote," says Land.

"I did some soul searching, and thought it was something I could get involved with and perhaps change the party view as far as not being cohesive, and working together. Instead of being part of the problem, I thought I could be part of the solution."

Land says her communications and public relation skills make her best suited for the position.

"I think that is what I have to offer," says Land. "I am the person that is able to work with people and get positive results. I worked with people from Sen. Rodney Ellis to Congressman Sheila Jackson Lee. Individuals that served under a non-partisan platform along with their staff, and during that time there was very much cohesiveness and respect for the different offices. That was a job I had for 15 years. I enjoyed working with them, and they as well enjoyed working with me."

Trujillo, a self-described yellow-dog Democrat, feels strongly that precinct chairs are the core of the party.

"My goals are to revitalize the Democratic Party," says Trujillo. "First by getting precinct chairs in every precinct. Without precinct chairmen you can't really win. The emphasis has to be placed on getting precinct chairs, who want to go out and work with the community and get the vote out. The battle is won and lost on that level."

He says his second priority is "open and honest communication with all the Democrats."

"We really have to reach out and communicate with one another," says Trujillo. "We need an active chair that doesn't suffer from myopia."

Trujillo, the son of an immigrant from Mexico and whose parents are both life-long Democrats, wants to bring a sense of inclusiveness to the party.

"We have to reach out to everybody," says Trujillo. "Not only the Democrats, but the independents, the Republicans, Greens, Libertarians - anyone who can vote. If you have a voter's registration card, you are my friend. It is a myth that Fort Bend is this impenetrable fortress and Democrats don't have a chance."

Trujillo says his experience as one of the first Equal Opportunity Race Relations Staff Officer in the U.S. Army make him uniquely qualified for the position of Party Chair.

"My job was to foster good relationships between people and to teach effective communication," says Trujillo. "In that respect, I learned all about people, and what I learned is that we are basically the same. We are more alike than different. I am a good listener. What has to happen is you have to listen two-thirds of the time and talk one third of the time. If you listen, people will tell you. You have to be willing to reach out to people. I have experience with dealing with not only people of different ethnic origins, but different nationalities. I really believe we are all in this together.